By Musa Yaro, Calabar
Chairman of the Gubernatorial Election Petition Tribunal in Cross River, Justice Oken Inneh, has warned media and legal practitioners at the tribunal to conduct themselves professionally.
Inneh gave the warning in Calabar at the inaugural sitting of the Cross River Gubernatorial Election Petition Tribunal on Tuesday.
Affirming that the tribunal sitting was time bound and would not entertain any form of delay or antics from legal professionals, Inneh enjoined them to pursue their cases in line with the constitution.
“While I urge lawyers to cooperate with the panel, members of the press, please report what you hear and don’t quote the judges or lawyers out of context; if you are not clear, get clarification from the secretary as the tribunal will work in accordance with the law and will be fair to all.
“As we officially commence sitting on Tuesday, May 23, I appeal to all Nigerians to remember us in their prayers for the wisdom to interpret the law effectively,” she said.
Contributing, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and Counsel to the All Progressive Congress, (APC) in the state, pledged the support of his team to ensure that the tribunal dispenses justice within the constitutionally specified time.
Ozekhome maintained that the constitution having stated time for the commencement and completion of the petitions ought not to be altered.
He argued that an additional day to the duration of the petition could be injurious to any party, hence everything must be accommodated within the legal framework so provided by the 2022 Electoral Act.
Also commenting, Joshua Musa, SAN, who is the counsel to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), promised to cooperate with the panel in achieving its aim which is anchored on justice.
The Gubernatorial Election Petition Tribunal in Cross River has three petitions and would be adjudicated by Justice Oken Inneh as Chairman while Justices Lawal Umar and Olalekan Olatawura will serve as members.
